Saunderson House

The firm operates on an advisory fee-only model, charging clients a percentage of assets under management rather than earning commissions on product sales or transactions. This approach, reinforced by the firm's chartered status, is designed to align investment decisions with client outcomes rather than distribution incentives (per the firm's official communications).

No. Saunderson House was previously a subsidiary of IFG Group, a publicly listed financial services holding company also known for the James Hay platform. In 2020, the firm's management completed a buyout with private equity backing, re-establishing Saunderson House as a fully independent entity (per IFG Group, 2020).

Saunderson House runs bespoke segregated portfolios for each client rather than pooling capital into commingled funds. The investment team constructs individual portfolios drawing on in-house equity, fixed income, and alternative research, tailoring asset allocation and security selection to each mandate. This stands in contrast to many private banks that allocate clients into a house range of unit trusts or model portfolio services.

The client base is concentrated among private individuals with substantial investable assets — historically including partners at law and accounting firms, senior corporate executives, and families with inherited wealth — as well as trusts, pension schemes, and UK-registered charities. The firm's minimum portfolio sizes and London-centric advisory footprint have typically drawn clients seeking a consolidated, relationship-led alternative to a large private bank.

The firm employs an internal investment team responsible for asset allocation, manager selection, and direct security analysis. With the 2020 management buyout, investment decision-making now rests with the same group of principals who own the equity in the business. The firm has not disclosed the individual names of partners or investment committee members in widely available public materials.